What engineering or chemistry degree do you have?

Mostly because you're running an oil that neither meets MB specs or is an actual synthetic.

Tractor Supply carries Mobil 1 Delvac ESP oil.

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Jim

I am no doubt running a non specified 229.52 oil. My goal is to use an oil that handles soot better than what I understand the M1 ESP to do. I am open to suggestions to a good diesel rated oil for the OM642.

Thanks for your input!

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2014 GL450 76K - Wife's DD
2013 GL350 123K - My DD
2002 ML320 300K hard miles (workhorse)
2001 Z3 105K the 4 weeks a year ride
1995 E300D 189K - Rarer ALL options one ortho seats & all

Past ones
2015 XC70
2008 V70
2003 XC90 2.9 (POS)
1998 Wrangler (sporting a SBC 388)
1995 E300D 500K - Should have kept it!
1985 E300DT
1984 E300DT-T
1984 240D Gray market

If you still have the Bluetec equipment installed, M1 ESP is really your only option (Hence the name "Emission System Protection"). Unless you're not worried about fouling the catalyst and the costs associated with its replacement.

Didn't know that ESP deal. Good input.

common sense, machine work back ground, read what auto mechanic's say.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Your "common" sense and background knowledge is wrong. I am a car and diesel mechanic by trade for 20 years. My ASE ID is ASE-2059-3662.


Engine oils are chosen by engineers based on bearing clearances, fuel type, emissions system components, and operating temperatures.


If an engine is specified to use 5W30 ESP synthetic, thats what it NEEDS to have in it. Just because you "feel" 5W40 truck diesel oil is "better" for the engine doesn't make you right. 40wt oil is too thick for the clearances inside the engine and non-esp oil will foul the exhaust catalysts.
This isn't some old OM617 that you can throw liquid manure in the sump and it will happily purr along for decades. Bluetecs have very expensive aftertreatment that can be damaged by ash, zinc and other additives in common oils as its burned in the engine (FYI, all engines burn some oil) and PCV oil vapor can combine with EGR soot in the intake to form severe sludge.

API SP oil, for example, addresses common problems in direct injection gas engines of intake valve deposits and low-speed preignition. Using more common API SN oils in an engine that specifies API SP will cause long term damage.

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Another 2008 E320 Bluetec owner here. You want 229.51 oil for that engine. The oils that meet this approval are listed here:

https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/bevolisten/229.51_en.html

There is a Mobil 1 5w30 product that is approved for your engine, but it's not the standard 5w30. It's called 5w30 "ESP". It will say ESP in large font on the label.

Personally I think 5w40 is a more appropriate weight for these hot running om642's. Castrol Edge Turbo Diesel 5w40 is a 229.51 approved oil, it's available at NAPA (or NAPA.com with free shipping) for $9.99 a liter, pretty decent price I think. I use it in our 2008 E320 Bluetec and 2015 GL350 Bluetec.

Regardless of which oil you choose, I would recommend going no more than 5000 miles or so between oil changes. The om642 is very hard on the oil, between a hard working oil cooled turbo, extreme heat from DPF regen, and the fuel dilution that occurs during DPF regen cycles, you don't want to run oil for too long in these engines. Lots of Blackstone oil analysis reports showing iron wear increases rapidly after 5k miles on the same oil in an om642.

It's a common misconception that M1 ESP is the "only option". It is one option, arguably not the best, but it is approved. My local MB dealer uses Penzoil Platinum Euro LX 0w30. There are a multitude of oils that meet the required MB 229.51 spec for his engine, in several different weights. See the Bevo link above.

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Current fleet:
1998 E300 turbodiesel
2008 E320 bluetec - leaky oil cooler seals replaced
2012 S350 bluetec
2015 GL350 bluetec

Sold:
1996 Passat TDI
1997 E300 diesel